Vijaysai Reddy Criticizes TDP Over Waqf Amendment Bill in Hyderabad
Rajya Sabha MP and YSRCP leader Vijaysai Reddy has voiced strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. On Saturday, he submitted the party’s representation against the bill and criticized the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for its ‘double-standards’ on the issue.
Reddy stated that the Andhra Pradesh government’s stance on the bill is ‘hypocritical, misleading, and anti-secular.’ He pointed out that Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who was part of the Union Cabinet that approved the bill, should resign due to the conflicting positions of his party and the Andhra Pradesh government.
Reddy also highlighted that 13% of Andhra Pradesh’s population is Muslim, yet they are not receiving fair representation in the state. He accused the TDP of failing to ensure this representation and preventing the opposition from raising their voice in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
Earlier, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the JPC, mentioned that detailed discussions were held with stakeholders in Ahmedabad as part of a nationwide consultation exercise on the proposed legislation. The meeting included Gujarat’s Home Minister, Waqf board officers, minority commission officials, and Islamic scholars.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, was referred to the JPC after a heated debate. The JPC is conducting informal discussions with various stakeholders until October 1 to refine the proposed amendments. The bill aims to bring reforms such as digitization, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied waqf properties.
Doubts Revealed
Vijaysai Reddy -: Vijaysai Reddy is a politician from Andhra Pradesh. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of India’s Parliament.
TDP -: TDP stands for Telugu Desam Party. It is a political party in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Waqf Amendment Bill -: The Waqf Amendment Bill is a proposed law to change how waqf properties are managed. Waqf properties are lands or buildings given for religious or charitable purposes in Islam.
Rajya Sabha -: Rajya Sabha is the upper house of India’s Parliament. It is like a council of states where representatives discuss and pass laws.
YSRCP -: YSRCP stands for Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party. It is a political party in Andhra Pradesh, founded by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Hypocritical -: Hypocritical means saying one thing but doing another. It is like pretending to be good but not really being good.
Anti-secular -: Anti-secular means being against the idea that the government should treat all religions equally. It is like favoring one religion over others.
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu -: Ram Mohan Naidu is a politician who is part of the Union Cabinet, which is a group of top leaders in the Indian government.
Union Cabinet -: The Union Cabinet is a group of senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister to help run the country. They make important decisions and policies.
Joint Parliamentary Committee -: A Joint Parliamentary Committee is a group of members from both houses of Parliament. They work together to study and improve proposed laws.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
Jagdambika Pal -: Jagdambika Pal is a Member of Parliament from the BJP. He is the chairperson of the committee working on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Nationwide consultations -: Nationwide consultations mean asking people from all over the country for their opinions and suggestions. It helps make better decisions.
Waqf properties -: Waqf properties are lands or buildings given for religious or charitable purposes in Islam. They are meant to help the community.